JUSTgottaBELIEVE

If Lopez develops into a TOR starter this year and beyond, it’s a win regardless of what Gio and Dunning become.

Said it in another thread but guys like JDM, Goldschmidt, Puig, Grandal, Hicks are all reasonable targets next winter. Maybe they’re not a 26 year old “super star” but they’re all damn good players that are certainly a step above any FA the Sox have signed in the past two decades.

Yep, exactly. When the likes of Morales and Reddick are your biggest FA acquisitions (not even what I would consider second tier guys), it just goes to show you can win a title without the mega star FA signings of Manny and Harper.

Reason for optimism...how many premium FA signings did the Royals and Astros make during their successful rebuilds that ultimately resulted in a WS title? It can still be done even if the FA signings are “second tier” talent.

I guess I see FA pitcher signings as a far bigger risk than FA position players. And after you get through the top few starting pitchers, the remaining list just isn’t very exciting.

Personally, I’d look to the trade market for controllable starting pitching. Should have enough assets between the current minor league system and June draft to put together a really nice package for a solid starter or two.

Sox could potentially field a 2020 lineup of the following and still carry a team payroll of just ~$100M: Madrigal (2b) Moncada (3b) JDM (DH) Goldschmidt (1b) Jimenez (LF) Puig (RF) Collins (C) Anderson (SS) Robert (CF) That’s a playoff lineup if the young guys are even league average collectively. Of course the starting rotation is still a big question mark with wildcards like Kopech and Cease expected to contribute in a big way but it’s not that difficult to envision a playoff roster in 2020 if the prospects are close to as good as advertised and with the addition of second tier/realistic free agent targets like JDM, Goldy, and Puig.

Define “massive.” I don’t think JDM breaks $100M guaranteed on his next contract. I could see 4/95 guaranteed with a team option for a fifth year and $5M buyout or something along those lines. Far cry from $300M, which I would consider massive. Despite being one dimensional, JDM’s fWAR last year nearly equaled Machado’s. Will he maintain it? Probably not at that level but I can see easily him being a 4 WAR DH into his mid 30s and a better hitter than Manny over that same period.

I definitely prefer JDM, and I think he’ll be productive into his mid 30s. As long as the one dimension is “top 5 hitter in MLB” sign me up!

I disagree. Guys like JDM and Goldy are certainly viable options for an owner like Jerry given their future payroll obligations. I can’t imagine they run a sub $100M team payroll every year for the next decade.

Yep. This is where I’m at. If Hahn is truly authorized to increase payroll by $30-50M (or more) a year moving forward, he shouldn’t have to settle for scrap heap types like years past but productive second tier all star players like Bogaerts, Rendon, Grandal, Goldy, JDM, etc. Those guys won’t require $200M+, $30M AAV contracts. JDM would be my preference. He’ll be 32 when he opts our after this season and perhaps the best hitter in baseball right now. Limited to DH so his market will be naturally depressed to AL only teams and Boston will have other priority FA’s to lock down long term like last year’s MVP. Pairing him with Eloy for 2020-2024 seasons would be a lot of fun.

I’m one of the few that wanted no part of Machado. I’m upset they are apparently out on Harper but at this point you stick to the rebuild. Another year of tanking in 2019 and top 5 draft pick in 2020 combined with this year’s #3 pick, a top 5 minor league system already, and young controllable talent already at the big league level and there is still hope. See how the young guys perform in 2019 and if they take a big step forward stay aggressive in FA next winter for the “second tier” free agent types like Rendon, Goldy, etc. in hopes of competing in 2020. If the young talent does not take a step forward in 2019, no sense in signing a bunch of free agents next winter. At that point, trade Rodon in either late July 2019 or next winter if he is healthy and productive. Trade short term contracts like Abreu, Alonso, Jay, Castillo, Colome, Herrera in late July to further reinforce the minor league system. Target 2021 as the start of the organization’s competitive window with young talent at the big league and all throughout the minor league levels. Supplement with free agency in winter of 2020/2021. This team isn’t ready to compete and may not be ready for another two years. Not a popular opinion but I believe missing on Machado is a blessing in disguise. Much like the awful Shields trade that started this entire process. Signing Machado would have given the front office false hope that they could compete in 2019 I’m afraid. Sorry, but not ready to start unloading prospects to “go for it” in 2019 and likely not 2020 either.

I’ll be surprised if they lose 100 games again. 90? Sure, but not 100 unless they get hit with significant injuries.

Apparently they didn’t with Machado either.

I never wanted Machado on the Sox, especially on these terms. I think the Padres will soon regret this deal. The only thing that upset me about yesterday’s events, is that he didn’t sign with the Phillies and it appears the Sox are out on Harper, the player I truly wanted.

Please no more Adam Engel as a starter. As a 4th/5th OF, maybe.

Also, since when is an OBP of 340 or higher the threshold for an "acceptable" OBP? The best offense in baseball last year had a team OBP of 339, which means they had several starters with an OBP of less than 340. That team also won the World Series.

749 in 2017. Split the difference and I'd be happy with 714 in 2019 (~100 points higher than Adam Engel...)

If used right in a limited reserve role, a slash line of 275/315/425 is completely realistic for L Garcia. Combined with passable defense at a number of positions makes him a nice piece to have when you are already carrying two 1B/DH in Abreu and Alonso. Palka is redundant. If they can hide him in AAA for much of 2019 and then reassess the 1B/DH role next winter when both Abreu and Alonso are potentially free agents, that would be the best course imo. Again, this is assuming the Sox acquire Pederson and Machado and need to clear space on the MLB roster.

I'd rather keep Garcia over Palka due to his versatility if the Sox acquire both Pederson and Machado. Send Palka to AAA when Eloy is promoted unless he's tearing the cover off the ball (and if he is you find a trade partner for Garcia or Rondon or DFA not a big deal either way). Nicky and Engel are definitely the odd men out in that scenario.

Either Jay or Moncada, a good “problem” to have. Both potential 350+ OBP guys.

I’d be fine with that as well. Move Moncada down in the lineup then.

My thought is that there is less pressure hitting in the #2 hole than leadoff as well (easier to let a pro like Jay take it now than a still very young Moncada). At least that’s how I felt when I played. I always much preferred the #2 hole.

It’s quite possible that Jay has a higher OBP than Moncada this season.

Jay (L) Moncada (S) Harper (L) Machado (R) Abreu (R) Jimenez (R) Alonso (L) Castillo (R) Anderson (R) Looks pretty solid, especially if Jay can recapture his 2017 form and 370+ OBP.